Aardwolfs Ice Hockey Club
| Aardwolfs Natural Ice Reports |
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| 17th July 2012 9.40pm |
Aardwolfs Ice Hockey Club |
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DISCLAIMER: These reports are based on: phone calls, emails, trips to the ice, lakes and ponds. Please NOTE that YOU SKATE AT YOUR OWN RISK and these reports only give you an idea of what to expect when you arrive. Conditions can change very quickly in the mountains and though we make every effort to keep these reports current in season, please be careful when skating.
Remember: ICE SKATING on NATURAL ICE can be dangerous.
Having a tow rope on hand works well for this.
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Weather information |
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| Natural Ice Reports for 2012 | |
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Skate Hire: Clive 033238293: 0274504399 Stewarts Gully Ice Skating Sharpening and Skate Hire |
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Tuesday 17th July 9.23pm:
Idaburn Dam From Dave Young at http://chipofftheiceblock.blogspot.co.nz/ |
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Lower Manorburn Ice - 100mm+ in Rush Cutters out
to 60mm on the other side. Water at both ends of the main basin. Dry and hard - good skate. There is a line of weed under the ice out from the big viewing rock - need to watch. Windy by the time I left. Needs frost! (was 13 deg this evening in Alex on the way through - won't last if this keeps up!!) |
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Monday 16th July 8.16pm:
Idaburn Dam From Dave Young at http://chipofftheiceblock.blogspot.co.nz/ |
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| Idaburn still had good coverage all over - up to 100mm. Was starting to creak in the main basin but solid in the first half of the gorge and ok to the dam. Had a good skate in the gorge on hard ice. Will break up fast if we don't get a frost or two. | |
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Monday 16th July 8.16pm:
Coalpit Dam/Hoffman's Dam From Dave Young at http://chipofftheiceblock.blogspot.co.nz/ |
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Was surprised to see so much ice still around
after the last few days of rain and warmer wind. Coalpit had 80mm plus on
the shady side and out to the middle. Ice was hard but wet and in some
places beginning to creak in the warmth. Wind blown debris on the surface
with some wind thaw holes starting to appear. Hoffman - gone off around the edge.  Wet Ice at Coalpit Dam, Photo by Dave Young |
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Sunday 15th July 9.00am:
Stavely Ice Rink From Staveley Ice Rink on facebook |
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| Rink open this afternoon. 1-5pm. Please note there is surface water on the ice after last nights rain and the car park is boggy so please take it easy where you park. See you there. | |
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Saturday 14th July 7.21pm:
Lake Ida From Ben Bussel by email |
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We had a great day out at Lake Ida the weather
was a little cloudy but mostly fine, even some blue sky, it did rain a
little. The condition of the ice is ok. In most places the top ice is
pretty soft but we did manage to find some hard ice. There also was some
water ponding on top of the Ice. The ice is about 120 to150 mm roughly.  Lake Ida: Saturday, Soft on top with some hard spots Photo by Ben Bussel |
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Saturday 14th July 3.30pm:
Stavely Ice Rink From Staveley Ice Rink on facebook |
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| RINK OPEN TONIGHT 7-10pm | |
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Saturday 14th July 9.57am:
Lake Camp From Alan Knowles by email |
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Conditions at 10am Saturday: Still with light
high overcast and blue sky to east, 5deg, all ice sheets intact but weak. Overnight, low 2.5deg, no wind and minimal rain. It will take only one frost to bring it all back into condition. I reckon Lake Ida will be skateable. |
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Friday
13th July 8.00pm: Lake Clearwater From Alan Knowles by email |
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Light NW wind all day, 3.6degC at 8pm and
dropping. (Up to 11degC during day.) Lake Clearwater: 100mm+ ice weakening
at crystal boundaries, softening. I skated to the island this morning and
west of the village, now hazardously weak for skating. Open water appearing
well west of village, but wind so slight its having little effect on the ice
sheet. Occasional spits of rain. Lake Camp: Similar but stronger ice than Clearwater, and I skated the full length of the lake for 3 hours until after midday. Prognosis: The ice sheets are still thick and holding edge to edge. The minimal wind forecast is likely to see some ice survive the coming westerly blast. With a big high due in 8 days there should be more skating this season. There is just might be ice strong enough to skate tomorrow, but the best chance would be Camp just east of the boat ramp. |
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Friday 13th July 9.30am:
Idaburn Dam From Dave Young by txt |
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| Over 100mm of ice right to the dam, no frost, hard and smooth, but wet ice, still locked in. Great skate: watch as wind and rain are due. | |
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Friday 13th July 9.30am:
Stavely Ice Rink From Staveley Ice Rink on facebook |
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| Hi guys. Rink open today Friday 13th. Water on surface of ice after warming. Weather for tomorrow Saturday doesn't look great at this stage, rinks likely to be close. Cold again next week so keep an eye here for updates. | |
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Thursday 12th July 11.00pm:
Fairly Ice Rink From Sandra Lambert via Facebook |
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| Had a night skate on it tonight, brilliant hockey!, someone rigged up generators for lighting, far end still thin, most rocks removed now. | |
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Thursday 12th July 8.30pm:
Lake Evelyn From Paul Scott |
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| Lake Evelyn was softening in the N/W today about a third of the Lake on the western end was safe with about a cm of soft on top. | |
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Thursday 12th July 12.00pm:
Fairly Ice Rink From Sandra Lambert via Facebook |
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| The ice rink in Fairlie opened today, all good just a bit thin down far end | |
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Wednesday 11th July 8.00pm:
Lake Camp From Clive Murphie |
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In a brisk -3 degrees a few more people had
their first skate on Natural Ice last night, good 100mm coverage over 99
percent of the lake with one area of open water about a third of the way
down the southern side. Lots of rocks and frozen bits of ice to navigate and
awesome stars...... Keep an eye on the weather N/W forecast for the next 4
days.  A cool -3 degrees at Lake Camp Wednesday Night Photo by Ron James |
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Tuesday 10th July 5.52pm:
Lake Camp and Clearwater From Alan Knowles via email |
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| 110mm ice on Camp and Clearwater and nice surface. | |
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Sunday 1st July 9.54pm: Lake
Evelyn (Last weeks video) From Joe Morgan via YouTube |
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Hot from the production board, video of our trip to Lake Evelyn 1st July 2012, Video by Joe Morgan |
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Monday 9th July 11.30pm: Lake
Evelyn From Clive Murphie |
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To finish our long weekend off, we met up with a
crew from Christchurch for a skate at Lake Evelyn, conditions were chilly
and the ice chippy, Evelyn still has 80-90mm of good ice over most of the
lake however caution on the Ida road end is advised as the ice becomes quite
vocal.  And yes it is as cold as it looks!!!!! Photo by Ron James |
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Monday 9th July 11.30pm:
Tasman Glacier Lake From Clive Murphie |
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As the icing on the cake for our weekend we
managed to get a skate with the icebergs on the Tasman Glacier Lake at Mt
Cook, in the majestic surrounding of the snow capped mounts and the glacier
clearly visible in the distance we skated on about a 50th of the Lake, at
the southern end, about a third of the lake was frozen however only the
southern end was stable. With 120-150mm of clear milky ice, skating among
the icebergs that are 1000's of years old, gives you a great sense of
serenity,  Stunning surrounds. Photo by Clive Murphie  Knocked this one off!!!!!!!.....Nathan. Photo by Clive Murphie. |
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Sunday 8th July 11.48pm:
Conway Dam From Clive Murphie |
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After talking to the locals at Fraser's Dam they
recommended a skate at Conway Dam a smaller dam closer to Alex, this great
little spot was easy access and was a safe skate in good conditions, so good
that we accepted the locals invite to return in the evening for a night
skate, good company and perfect conditions created an evening to remember.
We will be back.  Conway Dam Central Otago, Photo by Jeff peacock  Some keen Ice Hockey players. Photo by Gordon Raynor  Nothing like socializing round a brazier after a skate. Photo by Gordon Raynor |
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Sunday 8th July 11.48pm:
Fraser's Dam From Clive Murphie |
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After our morning skate at Butchers 7 of us took
off in search of Fraser's Dam, this is an irrigation dam located above
Alexandra, when we arrived out of the mist to glorious sunshine, there were
already skaters on the ice. Fraser's Dam had 120-140mm of hard windblown
ice, the Dam has dropped about 1.5mts from the original level when it froze,
giving some entertaining skating round the edges as skateboard bowel type
surfaces were found around the Lake.  New Friends at Fraser's Dam, Photo by Gordon Raynor  Clive looking out at the expanse of ice at Fraser's Dam Photo by Jeff Peacock |
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Sunday 8th July 11.48pm:
Butchers Dam From Clive Murphie |
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Just south of Alexandra is the Butchers Dam,
this expanse of water rarely freezes and we were lucky enough to catch it on
one of those rare occasions it did. 10 of us enjoyed 70-80mm of good ice,
this meant we could skate the whole area with caution, it was a shame to see
the locals had spent a lot of time throwing debris out on to the ice
including beer bottles, In misty hoar frost conditions of -3 degrees
it was an eerie skate with some great photo opportunities. Right Click and open in a new tab to get the full picture.......see the skaters in the far left of the picture..:) Photo by Ange Boyes  Gearing up for Butchers Dam. Photo by Ange Boyes |
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| Sunday 8th July 9.48pm: Lake Camp and Lake Clearwater, Emma and Roundabout. From Fred van Slooten by email | |
Terrific day at the Ashburton lakes today. Full
circumnavigation of Lakes Clearwater and Camp on smooth 70 to 100mm ice.
Lakes Emma and Roundabout soft for the afternoon skate on marginal ice. Some Hockey on the Ice at Lake Roundabout Photo Fred van Slooten |
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Saturday 7th July 11.3pm:
Poolburn and the Upper Manorburn Reservoirs From Clive Murphie |
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10 of us lucky Christchurch skaters spent today
skating the Poolburn Dam, a huge expanse of ice with lots of bays, islands
and interesting batch's, the whole dam is frozen with good black skateable
ice over the entire Reservoir. The Road was good access in the morning and
softening mud later in the afternoon.  The Actual Poolburn Dam. Photo by Ange Boyes  One of the many bays at Poolburn. Photo by Ange Boyes  The Crew at Poolburn. Photo by Dave Young. |
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Saturday 7th July 11.23pm:
Poolburn and the Upper Manorburn Reservoirs From Fred van Slooten by email |
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Stunning Aerial Photos from Fred van Slooten of
some of the Central Otago Lakes: Right click and open in anew tab to get the
full photo. The Greenland (L) and Upper Manorburn (R) Reservoirs. Photo by Fred van Slooten  Poolburn Dam: 24km skate round the outside perimeter, frozen with good ice at the moment. Photo by Fred van Slooten |
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| Saturday 7th July 11.15pm: Lake Clearwater, Camp, Emma, Roundabout, Heron From Alan Knowles by email | |
All Hakatery Lakes, 90mm ice, wonderful
conditions.  Daryll Thomson on Lake Clearwater, 7 July 2012 Photo by Alan Knowles  Mark Easton on Lake Emma, 90mm ice, full circumnavigation 6 July 2012 Phot by Alan Knowles |
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Friday 6th July 9.20am:
Idaburn Dam From Janos Kaszala by facebook |
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Fantastic 10 out of 10 black Ice today at
Idaburn Dam, 35 of us were skating from Dunedin, we were able to skate the
whole main area and down through the neck to the dam. A good days hockey at Idaburn Dam. Photo by Barrett Wilson |
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Friday 6th July 8.16am:
Lake Clearwater/Camp/Emma/Roundabout/Heron From Alan Knowles by txt |
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All Lakes had 75mm of black ice that has thawed
and refrozen. Mild temps last night. We skated the full length of Harrison's
Blight on Lake Heron and Up to Lake Heron station and back today. Also a
complete circumnavigation of Lake Emma. The Weather was clear skies with no wind.
Expect a big frost tonight!!!! On Lake Clearwater 4 JULY 2012: Mark Easton, Pete Stager, Alan Knowles, Syd Woods and Carlotte Woods Photo by Alan Knowles |
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Thursday 5th July 5.16pm:
Mahinerangi Arm From Dave Young at http://chipofftheiceblock.blogspot.co.nz/ |
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Had another good skate at
the Mahinerangi Arm this morning. The good ice was mostly thick - 60mm
plus. An interesting skate as the level falls and the lake bed is exposed
with plenty to explore. Also skated in the enclosed area below the huts.
Great ice - but care is needed as it thins out at the stream end and can be
tricky getting on, due to the dropped edges. Dave Young skating some interesting terrain Video by Dave Young |
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Thursday 5th July 8.05pm:
Stavely Ice Rink From Clive Murphie |
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Greatly relieved to find that the weather
conditions at the rink were as suggested by the Methven Weather station,
clearing skies and no precipitation, it was unfortunate that the warmer
weather today had been unkind to the rink surface, we did however find a
couple of patches of good ice that kept us amused till closing time. Some of the locals enjoying the Ice: opening day, Photo by Ron James |
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Wednesday 4th July 8.05pm:
Lake Lyndon From Tom Bagnall Holland by Facebook |
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Skated on Lake Lyndon for a
good few hours today, rough snow ice by the car park area, but really really
good black ice on most of the lake. From what I could tell. I think 40+mms of good ice :) |
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Wednesday 4th July 8.16am:
Lake Clearwater/Camp/Roundabout From Alan Knowles by txt |
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| Clearwater Camp Roundabout etc, 70mm clean black ice, no snow best skating in 6 years, today 80mm likely. | |
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Wednesday 4th July 2.23pm:
Coalpit Dam From Dave Patchett by email |
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Coalpit Damn (near Naseby) - within the shade of
the pines there is snow ice with soft snow/frost effects on top, mostly
un-skateable, but with a 1 meter band of very enjoyable black ice, 7-8 cm,
against the shore. Ann Ruxton skating in the Naseby Forest on Coalpit Dam Photo by Dave Patchett |
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Wednesday 4th July 2.23pm:
Idaburn Dam From Dave Patchett by email |
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Idaburn Dam (near Oturehua) - main curling basin
all black ice, 8-9 cm, lovely. I also skated down to the damn keeping on the
shady side. Very little creaking even at 2pm and hardly needed to test
depth, would have been at least 6 cm and usually much more in the best
shade. Another stunning photo of black ice on the neck at Idaburn Dam Photo by Dave Patchett |
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Wednesday 4th July 2.23pm:
Manorburn Dam From Dave Patchett by email |
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Manorburn (near Alexandra) - still lots of
skaters out on the main basin at 3pm and all skateable. All black ice 7-9 cm
but still thinning in the stretches down to the lower basin and through the
neck and no access was possible for me this avo. Was a good frost last night
and may now be possible. Locals on the ice at the Main Basin at Manorburn Dam Photo by Dave Patchett |
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Tuesday
3rd July 10.00pm:
Staveley Ice Rink From their Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/StaveleyIce |
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| Going by the report in the Ashburton Guardian today Staveley is Ready to Greet Skaters. Staveley Ice Rink opens tomorrow, a few of us are looking at heading that way, for the evening session. It is open 7.00pm-9-30pm, the cost is $10 entry and $5 for skate hire, spectators $3. To check the weather in the area use the Methven Weather Station just before you go. The rink is about an hour trip from Christchurch and as you can see from the newspaper Photo, they missed all the grey drizzle we had in Christchurch today!!!!!!!! How to get to Staveley | |
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Monday 2nd July 8.03pm: Lake Evelyn From Clive Murphie |
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8 carloads of skaters enjoyed the 50+mm of
smooth black ice over the whole of Lake Evelyn. We skated from the West end,
the length of the lake and in and around the rushes at the East end. Having
never seen the Lake fully frozen before this was an amazing experience.
Supported by clear skies, lots of stars and an almost full moon, lights were
not required. With a good weather forecast this ice should last awhile, to
be spoiled only by snow. Current conditions bode well for skating at Lyndon and Staveley.   Emily on the Left and Craig on the right enjoying the -7 temperatures at Lake Evelyn on Monday night. Photos by Ron James |
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Monday 2nd July 5.03pm:
Idaburn Dam and Poolburn Dam From Dave Young at http://chipofftheiceblock.blogspot.co.nz/ |
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Poolburn Ice 60mm +
over the whole lake - smooth and locked in. Road - good with some snow
on top. Make sure you have safety practices organized as you can get a
long way (and well out of sight) of your vehicle.
Ida Burn Dam - 60mm + locked in - good skating - smooth ice. Skate with the frost. Gooder than "As good as it gets"!!!! Read more here |
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Sunday 1st July 11.07pm:
Staveley Ice Rink From their Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/StaveleyIce |
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| Staveley Ice Rink has plans to open this Wed 4th July for afternoon and evening sessions (7.00pm-9.30pm) Like their Facebook Page for updates and more information. | |
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Sunday 1st July 11.07pm: On
the way in to Lake Evelyn From Fred van Slooten |
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On the Way into Lake Evelyn today we stopped and
skated a couple of places not possible previously: Lake Georgina and a
little tarn on the right of the road as you are driving in. Karl on Lake Georgina Photo Fred van Slooten  Nathan on a small never before skated tarn beside the road Photo by Fred van Slooten |
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Sunday 1st July 4.28pm:
Idaburn Dam From Dave Young at http://chipofftheiceblock.blogspot.co.nz/ |
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| Idaburn had 30-40 mm of black ice in the main basin. We had a good first skate on smooth glassy ice on the hut side. | |
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Sunday 1st July 4.28pm:
Poolburn Dam From Dave Young at http://chipofftheiceblock.blogspot.co.nz/ |
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Poolburn turned on a spectacular day - perfect weather and 30-40mm of fresh black ice. The ice was a bit thin in some places and the day was warming so we skated near the edges for safety. Fabulous ice - clear and smooth with lots to see. The water is 2 meters higher than last year and has created new islands and bays. We are looking forward to skating the whole area once the ice thickens. Road is in good condition with some snow at the top. Best time to skate - early morning with the frost. |
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Sunday 1st July 9.54pm: Lake
Lyndon From Ron James |
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Most of the Lake is frozen with some good
skateable areas, the strength of the ice does vary and care needs to be
taken. Access is best from the main road end. Mike enjoying the last of the light on Lake Lyndon. Photo by Ron James |
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Sunday 1st July 9.54pm: Lake
Evelyn From Clive Murphie |
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About 20 people had a great skate on lake Evelyn
today most of the lake is frozen and about a third skateable, this is some
rough snow ice in the western end and Black ice over the rest. with a good
frost tonight more of the lake will be usable tomorrow. It was so good we
are heading up for a night skate Monday Night. For those of you who didn't come to Lake Evelyn Today this is what you missed: Right click over the picture and open in a new tab for the full picture. Photo by Glen Cameron  Some of the people who didn't miss out Photo by Glen Cameron |
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Sunday 1st July 9.54pm: Lake
Camp and Lake Clearwater From Clive Murphie |
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| Lake Clearwater 30mm of black ice over the whole Lake, good for a skate if you weigh less than 60kg's and don't stand together..:-) requires 2 more good frosts and will be awesome ice. Lake Camp was marginally better!!!!! | |
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Saturday 30th June
7.49pm: Lake Clearwater From Alan Knowles by txt |
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Complete ice cover, black 30mm East end: 40mm
Temperature at 7.00pm -6 degrees and dropping |
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Saturday 30th June
7.49pm: Lake Camp From Alan Knowles by txt |
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| Completely covered with 30mm of ice | |
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Saturday 30th June
7.49pm: Lake Ida From Alan Knowles by txt |
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| Ida locked up 110mm of rough snow ice. | |
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Saturday 30th June
7.49pm: Lake Evelyn From Alan Knowles by txt |
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| Covered with 30mm of ice, had a good skate on the West end | |
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Saturday 30th June
7.49pm: Lake Lyndon From Alan Knowles by txt |
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| Lake Lyndon has compete cover of 30mm, good skating at the West end, snow ice 60mm thick and black ice at 50mm. | |
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Archives: 2012 Sunday 28th April to Sunday 24th June |
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| Other Places to visit for Skating Videos and Photos | |
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Aardwolfs You Tube site:
here Joe's You Tube site: here Glens You Tube site: here David Young's Blog: here iceblock.org.nz Ryan Hellyer's Homepages: here |
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| Archives | |
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2012
Sunday 28th April to Sunday 24th June 2011 (2) Monday 1st August to Tuesday 23rd August 2011 Saturday 4th June to Sunday 31st July 2010(3)Wednesday 14th July to Wednesday 11th August 2010(2)Wednesday 8th July to Tuesday 13th July 2010Saturday 29th May to Wednesday 7th July 2009(3)Thursday 9th July to Saturday 15th August 2009(2)Tuesday 30th June to Tuesday 8th July 2009 Sunday 6th June to Saturday 28th June 2008 Saturday 31st May to Sunday 27th July See older Photos on the Photos Pages for the individual locations for Ice Skating. |
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Some of the events above may have no association with the Aardwolfs Ice Hockey Club |